Limnology & Wetland Management

Transcription

1 Universität für Bodenkultur Wien University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna Curriculum for the Master s Programme in Applied Limnology and the International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management Programme classification no Effective date:

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 QUALIFICATION PROFILE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS PROGRAMME STRUCTURE COMPULSORY COURSES ELECTIVE COURSES FREE ELECTIVES MASTER S THESIS COMPLETION ACADEMIC DEGREE EXAMINATION REGULATIONS TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS EFFECTIVE DATE ANNEX A TYPES OF COURSES ANNEX B MODULE DESCRIPTIONS

3 1 QUALIFICATION PROFILE The Master s programme in Applied Limnology and the International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management are degree programmes which serve to deepen and extend students pre-vocational academic education, building on the basis provided by a bachelor degree programme ( 51 [2] item 5 of the Universities Act UG 2002, Federal Law Gazette BGBl I no. 81/2009). The programmes fulfil the requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, article 11, letter e. 1a) Knowledge and personal and professional skills The Master s programme in Applied Limnology and the International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management convey fundamental and applied knowledge of aquatic ecosystems (streams/rivers, lakes and wetlands). Students shall get insight into the essential functions and processes of chemical/physical and biotic system components, as well as their interactions. They shall further get to know the principles of nutrient dynamics, water quality and habitat characteristics. Students learn to describe aquatic organisms (fish, planktic and benthic invertebrates, aquatic plants and algae) and their ecological demands, as well as their relations to the abiotic system components in order to detect systemic links. They learn to identify and critically examine human impacts as well as to evaluate their consequences for ecosystems. Based on this, students shall develop measures for the protection and the restoration of aquatic ecosystems in terms of ecologically orientated water management concepts. Graduates will be equipped with the competencies to: describe how hydrology, morphology and aquatic organisms relate to biochemical processes and ecological functions of inland aquatic ecosystems; summarise provisioning and regulating ecosystem services provided by inland surface waters and wetlands; evaluate how catchment land use, climate variability, invasive species and fisheries exploitation might impact on the ecology of lakes, rivers and wetlands; evaluate anthropogenic impacts on rivers, lakes and rivers; think critically in evaluation of results, information derived from the literature and other sources, and for problem-solving of complex issues related to aquatic ecosystems; design sampling strategies for the cost-effective monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, that can support and inform policy objectives; meet deadlines through independent and efficient time management; effectively plan, organise and conduct a research project that has clear aims and objectives; write a thesis and reports, and present seminars to a professional standard; collate stakeholder views and integrate potentially conflicting objectives for the efficient and sustainable use of lakes, rivers and wetlands using concepts of an environmental management system, including management objectives for realistic action plans; work effectively in an interdisciplinary team; and provide effective, rational and evidence-based arguments, and be able to present these to a variety of audiences. 3

4 Graduates of the International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management will be equipped with additional skills to: evaluate the usefulness of wetlands as treatment systems of waste water; produce a wetland management plan; evaluate anthropogenic impacts on rivers, lakes and rivers in both temperate and tropical settings; apply their knowledge and scientific skills in international and multicultural teams and different socio-cultural environments; evaluate the interaction of environmental and socio-economic challenges in both developed and developing countries; and contribute to global development efforts (MDG s - Millennium Development Goals; policies & programmes of national and international development cooperation agencies). 1b) Professional qualifications The Master s programme in Applied Limnology and the International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management qualifies students to pursue the following professional activities: dealing with freshwater ecological issues in public and private bureaus, governmental departments, international authorities, water management and ecological planning offices, NGOs, international organisations and scientific institutions. The field of activity comprises all relevant freshwater ecological tasks arising from national, European (especially the Water Framework Directive) and international laws, directives and other commitments. 2 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS For graduates of bachelor s programs, mastery of the following learning outcomes is required for admission: Identify and systematically categorise essential groups of plants and animals, as well as describe their anatomical and physiological characteristics, and to understand similarities and differences; Comprehend significant interrelations between organisms and their environment on the level of autecology, synecology and population ecology, as well as evaluate their basic roles for the functioning of ecosystems; Discuss fundamentals of the structure (abiotic and biological components) and ecological functioning of freshwater ecosystems; Understand basics of inorganic and organic chemistry, as well as understand essential physiological and biogeochemical processes; Comprehend fundamental environmental processes such as, climate, water cycle and basic hydrology); Apply mathematics and statistical methods to perform explorative and descriptive data analyses, calculate and interpret simple ecological models; Recognise and describe types of rocks and soils, as well as understand essential processes of rock and soil formation and its implications for the shaping of the environment; and Understand fundamentals of geographic information systems and apply GIS software. In addition, the proof of Englisch knowledge at level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) must be provided. 4

5 3 PROGRAMME STRUCTURE 3a) Duration, total ECTS credits, and structure The Master s programme in Applied Limnology and the International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management consist of courses and other requirements worth a total of 120 ECTS credits. This is equivalent to a duration of four semesters (a total of 3, minute credit ). The Master s programme in Applied Limnology is divided into Compulsory courses: 40 ECTS credits Master s thesis: 30 ECTS credits Elective courses: 36 ECTS credits Free electives: 14 ECTS credits The International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management is divided into Compulsory courses at BOKU: 27.0 ECTS credits Compulsory courses at Egerton University: 26.0 ECTS credits Compulsory courses at IHE-DELFT: 24.0 ECTS credits Master s thesis: 30.0 ECTS credits Free electives: 13.0 ECTS credits 3b) Three-pillar principle The three-pillar principle is the central identifying characteristics of both the bachelor s and master s programmes offered at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. In the master s programmes, the sum of the compulsory and elective courses must be made up of at least 15% technology and engineering 15% natural sciences 15% economic and social sciences, law The master s thesis, compulsory internship and free electives are excluded from the threepillar rule. 3c) Joint degree programmes The International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management is implemented jointly by BOKU (Austria), Egerton University (Kenya) and IHE-DELFT (The Netherlands). Graduates receive a Joint Master s Degree in Limnology & Wetland Management from the three partner institutions. 3d) with a restricted number of participants For courses with a restricted number of participants, the instructor of a master s level course is entitled to give first priority to students enrolled in a master s programme (i.e. students enrolled in a bachelor s programme will only be admitted to the course if places are still available after all master s level students have been accommodated). When accepting master s programme students into a course, the following priority criteria with regard to the students course requirements shall be applied: compulsory course, elective course, free elective. 5

6 4 COMPULSORY COURSES The Master s programmes comprise the following compulsory courses: 4.1 COMPULSORY COURSES AT BOKU: AL & LWM Module 1 (LWM1): Basics in limnology Course ECTS Comp. Comp. type points Course name AL LWM Limnology VU 3 Yes Yes Limnochemistry and nutrient cycling VU 3 Yes Yes Ecology of aquatic systems VO 3 Yes Yes Module 2 (LWM2): Ecology of aquatic organisms Course ECTS Comp. Comp. type points Course name AL LWM Taxonomy and ecology of benthic invertebrates VU 3 Yes Yes Ecology of fishes VO 3 Yes Yes Module 3 (LWM3): Basics in applied limnology Course ECTS Comp. Comp. type points Course name AL LWM Physical environment of riverine landscape VO 2 Yes Yes Aquatic biomonitoring and assessment VO 2 Yes Yes Human impacts in riverine landscapes VO 2 Yes Yes Module 4 (LWM4): Aquatic ecosystem management Course ECTS Comp. Comp. type points Course name AL LWM Water legislation VO 2 Yes Restoration and conservation of riverine landscapes VS 3 Yes Yes Applications in river landscape management VX 2 Yes Module 5 (LWM5): Scientific methods Course ECTS Comp. Comp. type points Course name AL LWM Statistical analyses of ecological data VU 3 Yes Yes Scientific reading and presentation in aquatic ecology SE 3 Yes Module 6: Research proposal & master seminar Course ECTS Comp. Comp. type points Course name AL LWM Research proposal VS 3 Yes Master s thesis seminar SE 3 Yes Comp. = compulsory; AL= Master s programme in Applied Limnology; LWM = international Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management. 6

7 4.2 COMPULSORY COURSES AT EGERTON UNIVERSITY: LWM Module LWM6: Lake ecology Course type Course name Lake ecology VX 6 Module LWM7: Ecology of streams and rivers Course type Course name Ecology of streams and rivers VX 6 Module LWM8: Wetlands for water quality Course type Course name Wetlands for water quality VU 6 Module LWM9: Fisheries & aquaculture Course type Course name Fisheries & aquaculture VU 6 Module LWM10: Fieldtrip on sustainable management and utilization of coastal ecosystems Course name Course type Fieldtrip on sustainable management and utilization of coastal ecosystems VX 2 List of compulsory modules for LWM (International Joint Degree Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management) at Egerton University, Kenya. The modules are also elective modules for AL (Master s programme in Applied Limnology). 4.3 COMPULSORY COURSES AT IHE-DELFT: LWM Module LWM11: Data analysis & modelling for aquatic ecosystems Course name Course type Data analysis & modelling for aquatic ecosystems VU 5.6 Module LWM12: Aquatic ecosystems processes & applications Course type Course name Aquatic ecosystems processes & applications VU 5.6 Module LWM13: Wetlands for livelihoods & conservation Course type Course name Wetlands for livelihoods & conservation VU 5.6 Module LWM14: Summer school Course type Course name Summer school VS 1.6 Module LWM15: Groupwork environmental science Course type Course name Groupwork environmental science PJ 5.6 List of compulsory modules for LWM (International Joint Degree Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management) at IHE-DELFT, The Netherlands. The modules are also elective modules for AL (Master s programme in Applied Limnology). 7

8 5 ELECTIVE COURSES ELECTIVE COURSES APPLIED LIMNOLOGY Elective courses worth a total of 36 ECTS credits are required to complete the Master s programme in Applied Limnology. Students are required to choose a minimum of 2 biological/limnological orientated modules (module 8, module 9, module 10, module 15, module 18, module 19, LWM 6, LWM 7, LWM 8, LWM 9). Students are required to choose one of the seminar-type modules, either module 11, or module 12. Modules/courses of the International Joint Master Degree Programme in Limnology & Wetland Ecosystems, which are given at Egerton University and IHE-Delft, are also eligible as elective courses for Applied Limnology. Module 7: Ecohydromorphological monitoring Course type Course name River habitat and landscape assessment VU 4 Ecohydromorphological mapping VU 2 Module 8: Fish monitoring and assessment Course type Course name Fish sampling and monitoring VU 3 Fish ecological status assessment VU 3 Module 9: Benthic invertebrate monitoring and assessment Course type Course name Benthic invertebrate sampling and monitoring VU 3 Benthic invertebrate status assessment VU 3 Module 10: Aquatic plants Course type Course name Ecology of aquatic plants VU 2 Ecology of algae VU 2 Ecology, restoration and conservation of aquatic and riparian VU 2 vegetation Module 11: Environmental impacts on riverine ecosystems Course type Course name Environmental impacts on riverine ecosystems I SE 4 Environmental impacts on riverine ecosystems II SE 2 Module 12: Restoration & conservation of riverine landscapes Course type Course name Restoration and conservation of riverine landscapes I SE 4 Restoration and conservation of riverine landscapes II SE 2 8

9 Module 13: Planning and management Course type Course name GIS in riverscape planning VU 2 Fish passes and continuity VU 2 International land management VS 1.5 Module 14: Inter- and transdisciplinarity Course type Course name Participatory methods in development research and practice SE 3 Systems science for participatory management of dynamic socioecosystems SE 3 Module 15: Fisheries management and aquaculture Course type Course name Fish parasitology and pathology VO 2 Fisheries management and conservation VS 2 Fish farming and aquaculture VO 2 Aquaculture in practice lectures and field trips VX 2 Module 16: Ecosystem modelling Course type Course name Data mining and data management in aquatic ecology VU 2 Multi-scale modelling and system dynamics in aquatic ecosystems VU 2 Aquatic habitat modelling VU 2 Module 17: Hydrology and morphology Course type Course name Hydrological processes and modelling VU 3 Sediment regime and river morphology VO 3 Module 18: Limnochemistry in human impacted aquatic ecosystems Course type Course name Limnochemistry II PR 4 Water quality aspects in river restoration SE 2 Module 19: Ecology and taxonomy of freshwater fish and benthic invertebrates Course name Course type Ecology and taxonomy of selected invertebrate groups UX 3 Taxonomy and evolution of European fish communities UX 3 9

10 Module 20: Fish genetics Course type Course name Population genetics and evolutionary theory relevant for the management and protection of aquatic organisms VO 3 Laboratory methods in fish genetics SE 4 Module 21: Evolutionary biology and conservation genetics Course type Course name Conservation genetic analysis methods VO 1 Evolutionary biology and its applications VU 3 Conservation genetic lab PR 2 Module 22: River-society interactions Course type Course name Interdisciplinary concepts in understanding river-society interactions VS 3 Environmental history of river systems VS 3 Recreation in riverine landscapes SX 3 Module 23: Professional perspectives Course type Course name Internship seminar SE 3 Institutions and policies of the EU (Introduction to the law and politics of the European Union) VO 3 6 FREE ELECTIVES 6.1 FREE ELECTIVES APPLIED LIMNOLOGY Free electives worth a total of 14 ECTS credits are required to complete the Master s Programme in Applied Limnology. Free electives may be selected from all courses offered by all recognised universities in Austria and abroad. Free electives are intended to impart knowledge and skills in the student s own academic subject as well as in fields of general interest. It is recommended to cover at least part of the free elective course requirements with courses from the elective modules offered within this curriculum. 6.2 FREE ELECTIVES LIMNOLOGY & WETLAND MANAGEMENT Free electives worth a total of 13 ECTS credits are required to complete the International Joint Masters Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management. Students are free to choose electives courses at BOKU, Egerton University, IHE-DELFT, or any other recognised university. For students doing their MSc project at BOKU, the BOKU courses Scientific reading and presentation in aquatic ecology, Research proposal and Master Seminar are strongly recommended. 7 MASTER S THESIS A master s thesis is a paper on a scientific topic, to be written as part of a master s degree programme (for exceptions please see the By Laws (Satzung) of the University of Natural 10

11 Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, part III- Teaching, 30[9]). The thesis is worth a total of 30 ECTS credits. With their master s theses, students demonstrate their ability to independently address a scientific topic, both thematically and methodologically ( 51 [8] UG2002 BGBl. I no. 81/2009). The topic of a master s thesis shall be chosen in such a way that it is reasonable to expect a student to be able to complete it within six months. Multiple students may jointly address a topic, provided that the performance of individual students can be assessed ( 81 [2] UG 2002 BGBl. I no. 81/2009). The master s thesis shall be written in English. Languages other than English are permissible only if approved and confirmed by the thesis supervisor. The thesis defensio must be held in English regardless of the language of the thesis. 11

12 8 COMPLETION The Master s Programmes in Applied Limnology and in Limnology & Wetland Management have been completed when the student has passed all required courses and received a positive grade on the master s thesis and defensio examination. 9 ACADEMIC DEGREE Graduates of the Master s Programme in Applied Limnology are awarded the academic title Master of Science, abbreviated as MSc or M.Sc. by BOKU University. Graduates of the International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management are awarded the academic degree Master of Science, abbreviated as MSc or M.Sc. by the three partner institutions BOKU, Egerton University and IHE-DELFT. The academic degree MSc ( M.Sc. ) shall follow the holder s name ( 88 [2] UG 2002 BGBl. I no. 81/2009). 10 EXAMINATION REGULATIONS (1a) The Master s Programme in Applied Limnology has been completed successfully when the following requirements have been met: - positive completion of the compulsory courses worth a total of 40 ECTS credits ( 4); - positive completion of elective courses worth a total of 36 ECTS credits ( 5); - positive completion of free electives worth a total of 14 ECTS credits ( 6); and - a positive grade on the master s thesis and the defensio examination. (1b) The International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management has been completed successfully when the following requirements (corresponding to components in [7] below) are met: - positive completion of the compulsory courses worth a total of 77 ( 4); - positive completion of free electives worth a total of 13 ( 6); - a positive grade on the master s thesis and the defensio examination. (2) Student evaluation takes the form of course and module examinations. Course examinations can be either written or oral, as determined by the course instructor, taking the ECTS credit value of the course into account. Any prerequisites for admission to examinations shall be listed in 4 under the respective course/module. (3) Student evaluation in modules: Module evaluation is based on the grades given the students in the individual courses that make up the module. The total evaluation for the module is calculated as the average of the grades of all module courses, weighted by ECTS credits. Average values of.5 or lower are rounded to the better (numerically lower) grade; values of over.5 are rounded to the worse (numerically higher) grade. If deemed necessary, 12

13 the Dean of Students may require a module examination at his/her discretion. (4) The choice of examination method shall be based on the type of course: Lectures shall conclude with a written or oral examination, if continuous assessment of student performance is not applied. Seminars (SE) and project-based courses (PJ) can be evaluated based on independently written papers, length and contents of which are determined by the course instructor. For all other course types, the examination type is at the instructor s discretion. (5) The topic of the master s thesis shall be selected from one of the subjects of the master s programme. (6) After the successful completion of all the courses and examinations required in the master s programme, the completed master s thesis, after it has been given a positive evaluation by the thesis supervisor, shall be publically presented by the student and defensio in the form of an academic discussion (defensio). The committee shall consist of a committee chair and two additional university teachers with a venia docendi or equivalent qualification. The student s total performance (thesis and defensio) will be assigned a comprehensive grade. Both thesis and defensio must receive a passing grade for the student to complete the programme. The written evaluations stating the rationale for the thesis grade and the defensio grade are included in calculating the comprehensive grade and are documented separately. The comprehensive grade is calculated as follows: Master s thesis: 70% Defensio (incl. presentation): 30% (7) A comprehensive evaluation of the student s performance on the entire programme shall be assigned. A comprehensive evaluation of passed means that each individual component of the programme was completed successfully. If individual components of the programme have not been successfully completed, the comprehensive evaluation is failed. A comprehensive evaluation of passed with honours is granted if the student has received no grade worse than a good (2) on all individual components, and if at least 50% of the individual components were graded with 1 (excellent/sehr gut). Students of the International Joint Master s Programme in Limnology & Wetland Management need to fulfil the distinction criteria of Egerton University and IHE-DELFT additionally. 11 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS For students continuing their studies under the provisions of the previously valid curriculum, the list of equivalent courses (Äquivalenzliste) pursuant to a resolution of the Academic Programme Committee (Studienkommission) applies. This list includes all courses that correspond to courses offered in the previously valid curriculum. For students who switch to the new master s programme curriculum, examinations for courses taken under the provisions of the previously valid curriculum shall be recognised towards the new programme under the provisions of this curriculum based on the list of equivalent courses (Appendix C). 12 EFFECTIVE DATE This curriculum shall take effect on

14 ANNEX A TYPES OF COURSES The following types of courses are available: Lecture (VO) Lectures are courses in which certain areas of a subject and the methods used in this area are imparted through didactic presentation. Exercise course (UE) Exercise courses are courses in which students are instructed in specific practical skills, based on theoretical knowledge. Practical course (PR) Practical courses are classes in which students deal with specific topics independently, based on previously acquired theoretical and practical knowledge. Compulsory internship seminar (PP) The compulsory internship seminar is a class in which students deal independently with topics related to their internship placements, based on previously acquired theoretical and practical knowledge. Seminar (SE) Seminars are courses in which students are required to work independently on the respective subject, deepen their knowledge of the topic and discuss relevant issues. Field trips (EX) Field trips are courses in which students have the opportunity to experience relevant fields of study in real-life practical application, to deepen their knowledge of the respective subject. Field trips can be taken to destinations both in Austria and abroad. Master s thesis seminar (MA) Master s thesis seminars are seminars intended to provide students with academic support during the thesis writing process. Mixed-type courses: Mixed-type courses combine the characteristics of the courses named above (with the exception of project-type courses). Integration of different course-type elements improved the didactic value of these courses. Lecture and seminar (VS) Lecture and exercise (VU) Lecture and field trip (VX) Project course (PJ) Project courses are characterized by problem-based learning. Under instruction, students work - preferably in small groups - on case studies, applying appropriate scientific methods. Seminar and field trip (SX) Exercise and seminar (US) Exercise and field trip (UX) 14

15 ANNEX B MODULE DESCRIPTIONS B1. MODULES AT BOKU Basics in limnology Mandatory Module code 1 (LWM1) Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Understand the ecological principles of aquatic ecosystems; Analyse fundamental properties of lakes and river ecosystems; Describe major chemical properties of aquatic ecosystems Identify and apply adequate methods to analyse chemical and physical properties of aquatic systems Apply knowledge and skills to plan and carry-out simple research investigations for analysing the interactions between organisms and the environment; Interpret and present research results in oral and written form (manuscript & technical report); Evaluate the role of environmental factors and anthropogenic impacts on nutrient conditions and chemical characteristics of lentic and lotic ecosystems; Evaluate environmental factors, climate change and anthropogenic impacts on lake- and stream ecosystems. Limnology ECTS-points 3 Contact 40 Self-study 35 Total (à 60 min) 75 15

16 Limnochemistry and nutrient cycling ECTS-points 3 Contact 40 Self-study 35 Total (à 60 min) 75 Ecology of aquatic systems ECTS-points 3 Contact 30 Self-study 45 Total (à 60 min) 75 16

17 Module code Ecology of aquatic organisms Mandatory 2 (LWM2) Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Explain the life cycles and ecology of European and selected other important fish species; Understand principles of zoological systematics and taxonomical work; Use morphological features to identify benthic macro-invertebrates and fish with taxonomic keys from taxa-group to species level; Classify functional groups of benthic invertebrates based on morphological features (feeding-type, current preference, etc); Relate benthic invertebrate communities and fish to habitat categories, river types and eco-regions; Apply knowledge of ecology, physiology, and zoogeography of benthic invertebrates and fish to understand aquatic ecosystem functioning. Taxonomy and ecology of benthic invertebrates ECTS-points 3 Contact 30 Self-study 45 Total (à 60 min) 75 Ecology of fishes ECTS-points 3 Contact 30 Self-study 45 Total (à 60 min) 75 17

18 Module code Basics in applied limnology Mandatory 3 (LWM3) Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Understand the major controlling factors of river systems across multiple spatio-temporal scales; Describe the hydrological, morphological and sedimentological characteristics of river - floodplain systems at different spatial scales; Understand the interdependencies between hydromorphological processes and aquatic habitat conditions; Apply this knowledge to identify natural and human induced changes of the physical environment of rivers. Describe fish-ecological conditions in Austrian & European rivers; Understand principles of bioassessment; Review monitoring and assessment methods used for water management and biodiversity conservation; Understand the application of monitoring and assessment methods; Interpret monitoring and assessment results; Discuss methods for assessing and improving ecological integrity; Evaluate the impacts of human activities on running waters; Evaluate the role of bioassessment within the legal framework of water management and biodiversity conservation. Physical environment of riverine landscape ECTS-points 2 Hours 1.5 Contact 20 Self-study 30 Total (à 60 min) 50 18

19 Aquatic biomonitoring and assessment ECTS-points 2 Hours 1 Contact 20 Self-study 30 Total (à 60 min) 50 Human impacts in riverine landscapes ECTS-points 2 Hours 1.5 Contact 20 Self-study 30 Total (à 60 min) 50 19

20 Module code Aquatic ecosystem management Mandatory for AL, partly mandatory for LWM 4 (LWM4) Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Discuss the most important Austrian and EU water legislation documents for planning and implementing projects towards the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems. describe different types of management concepts and restoration and conservation measures; discuss concepts and measures with regard to targets and reference conditions, spatio-temporal scales, and consequences for the aquatic environment; characterise main planning tools; develop a conceptual framework for the process of integrative river management; identify appropriate procedures and criteria for setting priorities in river restoration and conservation; and present and discuss contemporary scientific studies on restoration and conservationapply knowledge about ecological river management to discuss case studies in the field; Assess success and constraints of different types of management measures; Identify appropriate planning tools for specific management tasks and problems; Cope with practical challenges and framework conditions for implementing management programs; Write a well argued, logically sound, coherent and well edited report. Water legislation ECTS-points 2 Hours 1 Contact 13 Self-study 37 Total (à 60 min) 50 20

21 Restoration and conservation of riverine landscapes ECTS-points 3 Hours 3 Contact 30 Self-study 45 Total (à 60 min) 75 Applications in river landscape management ECTS-points 2 Contact 20 Self-study 30 Total (à 60 min) 50 Module code Scientific methods Mandatory for AL, partly mandatory for LWM 5 (LWM5) Contact Self-study Total

22 After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Understand the role of scientific publications in science; Search and identify relevant publications; Read and understand scientific publications; Analyse, compare and summarise scientific publications; Generate a critical personal perception of published research results; Present, discuss and defend research results; Understand the scientific background and assumptions of statistics in aquatic ecology in theory and practice; Demonstrate ability to select appropriate methodologies for data analysis, based on the specific properties of particular data sets; Formulate statistical hypotheses; Understand differences of parametric and non-parametric analyses; Discuss and compare means and to calculate correlation and regression coefficients; Use different software for data management and data analyses (MS Excel, SPSS, R); Present statistical analyses in tables and graphs. Scientific reading and presentation in aquatic ecology ECTS-points 3 Contact 15 Self-study 60 Total (à 60 min) 75 22

23 Statistical analyses of ecological data ECTS-points 3 Contact 30 Self-study 45 Total (à 60 min) 75 Research proposal & master seminar Mandatory for AL students; elective for LWM students Module code 6 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Engage critically with theory and literature in a chosen field of research; Develop research questions in the context of current knowledge which can be answered by a research project; Set explicit research objectives and hypotheses for a proposed research project; Justify study designs, research methods, sampling designs and methods of analysis which are valid, feasible and efficient; Develop realistic time tables and cost estimations; Compose a detailed written research project proposal; Present and defend a research project proposal; Review and critically reflect on the validity and appropriateness of research proposals; Present concisely the Master project objectives, relevance and justification, research methodology and research results; Relate own research results to contemporary research findings in the specific field of studies; Reflect critically on own research results and eventual limitations of the research project; Demonstrate skills in analytical problem-analysis, synthetic thinking and communication; Integrate knowledge to evaluate the relevance of own research findings to wider contexts. 23

24 Research proposal ECTS-points 3 Contact 15 Self-study 60 Total (à 60 min) 75 Master s thesis seminar ECTS-points 3 Contact 15 Self-study 60 Total (à 60 min) 75 24

25 Ecohydromorphological monitoring Optional Module code 7 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Explain different national and international hydromorphological survey and assessment methods; Identify key-habitats of river landscapes for hydromorphological surveys and assessments; Apply hydromorphological survey and assessment methods in the field by using various techniques and instruments; Plan, prepare and realise an area field mapping with data input and analyses; Analyse hydromorphological data sets with GIS; Evaluate hydromorphological data sets with regard to specific assessment goals; Propose suitable hydromorphological monitoring methods for specific monitoring goals and spatial scales; Present the field survey and assessment results. River habitat and landscape assessment ECTS-points 4 Contact 30 Self-study 70 Total (à 60 min)

26 Ecohydromorphological mapping ECTS-points 2 Contact 24 Self-study 26 Total (à 60 min) 50 Fish monitoring and assessment Optional Module code 8 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Understand why fish stocks need to be monitored; Apply different fish sampling methods in the field; Apply different desk methods for fish stock assessment; Assess the quality of fish stocks and explain possible deficits; Design fish monitoring programmes based on legal requirements; Integrate fish stock assessment into the ecological status assessment frameworks; Compose a technical report for fish-based, river-type-specific assessment of ecological integrity. Fish sampling and monitoring ECTS-points 3 Contact 24 Self-study 51 Total (à 60 min) 75 26

27 Fish ecological status assessment ECTS-points 3 Contact 24 Self-study 51 Total (à 60 min) 75 Benthic invertebrate monitoring and assessment Optional Module code 9 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Discuss various methods of sampling macro- invertebrates and their application in applied research and monitoring; Identify ecologically meaningful habitat types (choriotopes) and estimate their proportional occurrence in the field; Apply standardised sampling methods ( Multi-Habitat-Sampling ) in wadeable rivers; Examine benthic invertebrate communities according to the European Water Framework Directive (sorting and identification of invertebrates); Compare assessment methods currently used in Europe with regard to their respective advantages and disadvantages; Apply autecological information of selected bio-indicators to identify different stressors of aquatic systems; Analyse reactions of the macro-invertebrate community to environmental variables; Evaluate biological data and discuss potential impacts on benthic communities based on provided species lists from previous projects; Apply ECOPROF - the Austrian assessment software; Interpret and present research results in written form (technical report) and within Powerpoint presentation. 27

28 Benthic invertebrate sampling and monitoring ECTS-points 3 Contact 30 Self-study 45 Total (à 60 min) 75 Benthic invertebrate status assessment ECTS-points 3 Contact 30 Self-study 45 Total (à 60 min) 75 28

29 Aquatic plants Optional Module code 10 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Describe the biology and habitat preferences of aquatic plants and the ecological role of riparian vegetation in floodplains; Identify key-species of aquatic plants, riparian vegetation and main algal groups (e.g. green algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria); Discuss conservation aspects and relevant EU guidelines with regard to algae, aquatic plants and riparian vegetation; Evaluate selected environmental effects on algae; Apply knowledge and skills to run short term experiments on ecophysiology of algae; Apply standard methods for recording and mapping of vegetation and physical habitat parameters in the field and fundamentals in modelling of riparian ecosystems; Evaluate the effects of human impacts on algae and plants - such as eutrophication, river regulation, hydro-power plants, reservoirs etc.; Evaluate the current assessment approaches using algae in lentic and lotic ecosystems. Ecology of aquatic plants ECTS-points 2 Hours 1.5 Contact 20 Self-study 40 Total (à 60 min) 60 29

30 Ecology of algae ECTS-points 2 Hours 1.5 Contact 20 Self-study 30 Total (à 60 min) 50 Ecology, restoration and conservation of aquatic and riparian vegetation ECTS-points 2 Hours 1 Contact 15 Self-study 35 Total (à 60 min) 50 30

31 Environmental impacts on riverine ecosystems Optional Module code 11 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Discuss concepts to assess riverine ecosystem degradation; Review methodological approaches to assess environmental and human impacts on riverine ecosystems; Understand the effects of climate change on aquatic biota in rivers; Apply methods for quantitative and qualitative data analyses including GIS analyses; Assess the effects of environmental impacts on fish and benthic invertebrates, as well as on ecosystem services; Present and defend own investigation results based on case studies; Analyse and assess in depth the effects of environmental impacts on riverine biota (fish and benthic invertebrates), as well as on ecosystem services; Apply active reading strategies in order to analyse and interpret scientific articles; Synthesise knowledge gained through scientific articles; Discuss own research questions based on a literature review; Write a well argued, logically sound, coherent and well edited scientific text. Environmental impacts on riverine ecosystems I ECTS-points 4 Hours 3 Contact 36 Self-study 64 Total (à 60 min)

32 Environmental impacts on riverine ecosystems II ECTS-points 2 Hours 1 Contact 12 Self-study 38 Total (à 60 min) 50 Restoration and conservation of riverine landscapes Optional Module code 12 - Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Understand different tasks and methodological approaches for river restoration/conservation concepts and strategies; Describe restoration and conservation concepts for different aquatic ecosystems; Apply methods for quantitative and qualitative data analyses, GIS analyses; Analyse the status quo of the aquatic environment/riverine landscapes (habitat- and ecological trait losses, deviations from reference conditions); Assess the effects of restoration/conservation measures on the aquatic environment as well as on ecosystem services; Develop restoration/conservation concepts; Discuss and evaluate restoration/conservation concepts and management scenarios; Present and defend own investigation results based on case study work; Assess in depth the effects of restoration/conservation measures on riverine ecosystems, as well as on ecosystem services; Analyse and review scientific papers critically in terms of key messages, consistency and relevance; Summarise and organise information from a literature review; Draw relevant conclusions from scientific literature for own research questions; Discuss own research questions based on a literature review; Write a well argued, logically sound, coherent and well edited scientific report/paper. 32

33 Restoration and conservation of riverine landscapes I ECTS-points 4 Hours 3 Contact 36 Self-study 64 Total (à 60 min) 100 Restoration and conservation of riverine landscapes II ECTS-points 2 Hours 1 Contact 12 Self-study 38 Total (à 60 min) 50 33

34 Planning and management Optional Module code 13 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Identify and structure work flows in GIS; Examine potential data sources for GIS analyses in aquatic ecology; Apply GIS tools suitable for monitoring, management, planning, and analyses of riverine ecosystems and create GIS maps; Interpret GIS results for riverscape analyses; Understand reasons for fish migration; Know ranging behaviour and swimming performance of different fish species; Identify ecological prioritisation for river continuity restoration; Design different types of fish passes according to specific ecological criteria; Select appropriate field-survey techniques and sampling strategies for technical evaluation and biological assessment of fish passes; Recognize land management as an issue; Know types of land tenure and access to land, Understand methods and instruments of land administration, Discuss systems and decision making in land use planning. GIS in riverscape planning ECTS-points 2 Hours 1.5 Contact 10 Self-study 40 Total (à 60 min) 50 34

35 Fish passes and continuity ECTS-points 2 Hours 1.5 Contact 10 Self-study 40 Total (à 60 min) 50 International land management ECTS-points 1.5 Hours 1 Contact 10 Self-study 28 Total (à 60 min) 38 35

36 Inter- and transdisciplinarity Optional Module code 14 Contact Self-study Total 6 4?? 150 After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: List different participatory methods and approaches and how they evolved; Describe participatory approaches and methods used in developing countries and explain why they are used; Identify different epistemologies of different stakeholder groups; Identify consequences of different approaches of collaborative research and management. Recognize capabilities of local people to manage resources. Apply participatory methods in a self-reflective mode. Assess strengths of different participative approaches; Master methods in different professional roles (notably as researcher, process facilitator); Integrate participatory methods into research on and management of natural resources; Design participatory methods and applications based on training examples; Evaluate different participatory methods; Evaluate shortcomings of professional practice; Engage critically with theory and literature in a the fields of systems science, ecosystem management and participatory research; Develop research questions in the context of current knowledge and policy priorities (especially with respect to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which can be answered by a transdisciplinary action research project; Justify methods of research integrated with decision-making that are valid, feasible and efficient in the contexts of specific socio-ecosystems Formulate and present a participatory action research proposal to recruit team members or to garner support of funders; and Independently develop action research projects by building teams that develop ideas and garner support for their implementation. Participatory methods in development research and practice ECTS-points 3 Contact? Self-study? Total (à 60 min) 75 36

37 Systems science for participatory management of dynamic socio-ecosystems ECTS-points 3 Contact 25 Self-study 50 Total (à 60 min) 75 Fisheries management and aquaculture Optional Module code 15 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module participants are able to: Relate the life histories of fish parasites to transmission, prevention and control of fish diseases; Describe pathological diagnosis of important fish diseases and approaches to monitor and to manage fish health; Describe the state and potential of the aquaculture in the world; Summarise the state of the art of fish farming and feed techniques for temperate and tropical zones.identify strengths and weaknesses of fish production systems; Evaluate critically the ecological and economic opportunities and challenges in organic farming and industrialized productions; Discuss the step-wise production of each phase for the whole production cycle; Apply ecological knowledge to enhance fish production and to reduce environmental impacts; Summarise current topics in fisheries management and conservation of freshwater fish species; Identify relevant problems related to artificial fish production and stocking; Assess possibilities and limitations of sustainable, ecological orientated fisheries management; Evaluate potential sources of conflicts between fisheries and conservation measures; Present scientific studies on fisheries management and conservation issues. 37

38 Fish parasitology and pathology ECTS-points 2 Hours 1 Contact 15 Self-study 35 Total (à 60 min) 50 Fisheries management and conservation ECTS-points 2 Contact 30 Self-study 20 Total (à 60 min) 50 Fish farming and aquaculture ECTS-points 2 Hours 1 Contact 15 Self-study 35 Total (à 60 min) 50 38

39 Aquaculture in practice lectures and field trips ECTS-points 2 Contact 20 Self-study 30 Total (à 60 min) 50 Ecosystem modelling Optional Module code 16 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Understand fundamentals of multidimensional and applied ecosystem modelling at different spatial scales, from micro-habitat to catchment scale; Analyse and discuss ecological and environmental data-sets by using different modeling methods; Select appropriate field-survey techniques, sampling strategies and data management schemes for specific research and management goals; To sample data in a standardised way in the field; Know how to manage their own data (e.g. MS Access); and Incorporate information of different kinds (quantitative and qualitative) and from different perspectives (natural and social science) in research and decision-making related to managing aquatic ecosystems; Understand and identify the main elements and processes features of applied aquatic ecosystems modelling and structure and relate them in a hierarchical manner (the conceptual causal modelling unit follows hereby the concepts of hierarchy theory supported by qualitative reasoning as means for qualitative causal simulations); Apply statistical intuition and abstract reasoning as well as reasoning from numerical data through ecology-based and other research (sociology, adaptive management); Apply field surveys techniques, data management schemes and modeling techniques to their own data-sets; Select and use appropriate field-sampling techniques, sampling strategies and data management schemes for specific research and management goals; Understand in theory and practice field methods (snorkling, fish observation, habitat assessment) useful on micro- and meso- habitat scale; Apply data, sampled by their own, to different modelling techniques; Demonstrate critical thinking in interpreting and deriving conclusions from environmental and ecological data-sets. 39

40 Data mining and data management in aquatic ecology ECTS-points 2 Hours 1 Contact 15 Self-study 35 Total (à 60 min) 50 Multi-scale modelling and system dynamics in aquatic ecosystems ECTS-points 2 Hours 1.5 Contact 15 Self-study 35 Total (à 60 min) 50 Aquatic habitat modelling ECTS-points 2 Hours 1.5 Contact 15 Self-study 35 Total (à 60 min) 50 40

41 Hydrology and morphology Optional Module code 17 Contact Self-study Total After successful completion of this module, participants are able to: Process understanding for individual components of the hydrological cycle; Know measurements techniques and the availability of hydrological data at different spatial scales; Know different model concepts for hydrological processes; Choose and apply models for different applications; Solve problems related with sediment transport and river morphology (the lack and surplus of sediments leads to the very actual problem of river bed degradation and reservoir sedimentation with ecological, technical and economical negative consequences). Hydrological processes and modelling ECTS-points 3 Contact? Self-study? Total (à 60 min) 75 Sediment regime and river morphology ECTS-points 3 Contact 30 Self-study 45 Total (à 60 min) 75 41

42 Limnochemistry in human impacted aquatic ecosystems Optional Module code 18 Contact Self-study Total 6 4, After successful completion of this module participants are able to: Discuss the impact of human activities on elemental cycles; Apply a wide range of methods to analyse major chemical and physical properties of different compartments of aquatic ecosystems; Analyse various nutrient fluxes and their interaction in aquatic ecosystems; Evaluate limnochemical parameters reflecting major ecosystem properties and human impacts in selected aquatic ecosystems. Limnochemistry II ECTS-points 4 Hours 3 Contact 36 Self-study 64 Total (à 60 min) 100 Participation requirements Limnochemistry I, or equivalent course Every 2 nd Year (alternating with Ecology and taxonomy selected invertebrate groups ) Water Quality aspects in river restoration ECTS-points 2 Hours 1,5 Contact 18 Self-study 32 Total (à 60 min) 50 Participation requirements none Every 2 nd Year (alternating with Taxonomy and evolution of European fish communities ) 42